A Heartwarming, Thought-Provoking Journey – 5 Stars

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is a beautiful, poignant audiobook that I simply couldn’t put down. Narrated by Arina Ii, this story touched me deeply and left me reflecting on the fleeting nature of time and the importance of the moments we have. The narration was absolutely superb, with Arina’s soothing voice drawing me into the magical yet bittersweet world of this small Tokyo café.

The story revolves around a unique café in a back alley of Tokyo where patrons are offered a chance to travel back in time. It’s not as simple as it sounds, though—the rules are strict: the visitor must stay in the same spot, they can’t leave the café, and they must return before the coffee gets cold. The charm lies in the deeply human stories of the people who visit this café, all hoping to relive a moment of their past for various personal reasons: to confront someone they’ve lost, to have one last conversation, or to make peace with their regrets. Each story is tender, emotional, and ultimately, filled with profound lessons about love, loss, and the passage of time.

Arina Ii’s narration perfectly complements the reflective and serene tone of the book. Her voice brings the characters to life with such warmth and sensitivity that I felt as though I were right there in the café, experiencing their joys and sorrows alongside them. The way she delivered the various emotions—from the quiet grief of a woman hoping to speak with her husband again, to the longing of a sister yearning to see her sibling one last time—was simply stunning.

What I loved most about Before the Coffee Gets Cold is its exploration of the concept of time and the idea that even if we can’t change the past, there is still beauty in the memories we hold dear. It’s a story about letting go, making peace, and cherishing what we have, all set in the comforting, almost magical atmosphere of this timeless café.

This audiobook is a perfect companion for moments of quiet reflection. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, urging you to think about your own relationships, regrets, and the precious moments you may take for granted. A definite 5-star recommendation for anyone looking for a heartfelt, beautifully narrated listen that will leave you with a full heart.

Sigh. This book is, on paper, perfect for me. I love a book in translation, it has a whimsical setting and a slight time travel twist. And yet.

This unfortunately failed to capture me. It’s a global phenomenon with numerous follow ups but it just wasn’t for me.

I feel like there are already a thousand reviews for this book. All I will say is that the narrator does a great job. I truly found myself immersed in the story and the characters. This is definitely an author to watch out for in the future. I know for sure I will be reading the rest of the novels in this series.

There are books that you just know are going to stay with you forever , that has made an indelible impression and is going to live rent free in your head till the end of times - this is definitely going to be one those for me.

Upon reading this, I realized that these people — the people who've chosen to go back in time and to the future — doesn't want to change what happened and what will happen. They just... want to know what could have happened, what might have happened, and they want to experience some things again.

I received a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book isn’t something I would normally pick up but I had heard lots about it so thought I would give it a go.

Although it is a novel, it is essentially four shorter stories that each connect to the café where one seat can send you to visit a different time as long as you finish the coffee before it gets cold.

I found the stories a little repetitive. Each one was very sentimental with a lot of emotion behind the persons visit to another time. I struggled a little with the last story as personally I am not a fan of stories that include a woman who remains pregnant to have a child at the expense of her own life - but that is just my personal opinion.

The narrator of the audiobook had a very calming voice that was relaxing to listen to.

This book begins as a set of short stories, but with recurring people and the fact that the story has a direction, it wouldn’t qualify as an anthology.

I listened to an audio version and it took me some time to figure out who was who since there are several people who move in and out of the picture. I am not going to even try and reproduce their names since I only heard them and will have to look up the individual spellings.

The cafe in question has a well known secret. It allows people to travel back in time with several caveats. These are explained in detail every time a customer expresses an interest in the time travelling seat. There are several people who take advantage of the seat with varying results.

The first is a woman who is trying to figure out where she went wrong in her relationship. Then there is another who has had a tough relationship with her sister, there is a stranger who comes to take a photo with the cafe owners and also a wife who is losing her husband to a disease. One of the couple who runs the cafe also uses the seat to ensure the decision she has come to is of some use. The story of the sisters and the couple brought tears to my eyes but the ones that concern the owners of the cafe were conflicting to say the least. I will not go into the details for obvious reasons but I did not get the reasosn behind some of the decisions taken.

It was an odd book, I even recommended it to a local book club in my locality and they came away with mixed feelings as well! I would recommend it to people who like to try translated works since the translation seemed seamless and I did not feel like I was listening to one.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.

Amazing book! I can’t wait to read the others in the collection of books. Thank you netgalley for the copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I read the book a while back and although the premise of the book is interesting, I didn't find myself blown away by it. However, I would say that the audiobook performance was great and I enjoyed the story better,

The premise of this story is a coffee shop where you can go back in time to see someone again linked to a regret in your past, a last opportunity to go back and reassess the situation. It is only possible if you finish your coffee before it gets cold. I quite enjoyed this but it wasn't really my cup of tea. Thank you to Net Galley for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

I think that the concept of the book is pretty good, however I don't think the execution was the best.

I found it to be quite a slow book, which I don't think suits the story as it is all happening in one place, there is too much repeated description of coffee being made rather than expanding on the stories of the customers. The repetitiveness could have been what made the book feel so slow.

I also found that there was a lot of miscommunication/ people not saying how they feel which is extremely frustrating to me.

The actual narration was done amazingly, the narrator is a fab narrator.

The book isn't awful, it has heartwarming moments and some lovely messages. It could be that the pacing of the book may have been lost a bit in translation.

I would give the second book a go, however if it was the same sort of tropes and the same pacing I would probably end the series there.

This is such an enchanting, inspiring and emotional story. It builds some incredible relationships with the characters, and the cute café in which the story is based.

This novel in based in a small Japanese café that can send people through time, but with some specific rules that must be followed and a lot of divergence from a traditional sci-fi novel.

Each section focuses on a different time and character journey, but since there are overlapping characters who put in appearances throughout this book there is an unquestioned richness to the overlapping character stories. It combines the complex characterisation of a traditional novel with the intense focus of a collection of short stories.

I adored the variety of the characters, as well as with the realistic nature of their problems. This novel is sweet and sad and hopeful, leaving the reader asking “just what is the point of that chair” and I certainly think we could learn something the reminder to drink the coffee before it gets cold.

First time I've listen to a fiction audio book and I don't think I liked it!
Nothing to do with the story/narrator, I just found I couldn't immerse myself in the book. I will try to reread in paperback/kindle/etc because I wanted to like this!

DNF - 2 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook copy.

Unfortunately this book is not for me. After multiple attempts to progress with the book I've decided to leave it as did not finish.

Although the concept is a good idea, I found parts of the book grating. Due to the repetition of the same information, which is one of my pet peeves.

"Before the Coffee Gets Cold" is an extraordinary exploration of the human heart and the timeless question of what we would do if we could travel back in time. Toshikazu Kawaguchi's poignant storytelling, beautifully translated by Geoffrey Trousselot, immerses the reader in the intimate setting of a small Tokyo cafe that has been serving meticulously brewed coffee for over a hundred years. But this is not just any cafe, for it offers its patrons a unique and precious opportunity - the chance to journey back into their past.

We journey with four visitors, each seeking to reconcile with their past and find closure. From confronting a departed lover, receiving a letter from a husband stricken with Alzheimer's, reuniting with a beloved sister, to meeting a daughter they never knew, each tale is a heartfelt testament to love, regret, and the human capacity for resilience.

However, the journey is not without its rules and risks. The travelers must abide by the cafe's rules, and most importantly, return before the coffee gets cold. This metaphor of the transient nature of time and the urgency of living in the present adds a unique flavor to the narrative.

Kawaguchi's "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" is a beautifully crafted piece of fiction that leaves a profound impact on its readers. It is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of time, the importance of cherishing our loved ones, and the incredible strength of the human spirit. A must-read!

Amazing read!! The novel is set in a small café in Tokyo, where customers can travel back in time, as long as they follow certain rules and return before their coffee gets cold. The novel consists of four stories, each featuring a different customer who wants to revisit their past or future for various reasons. The novel explores the themes of love, loss, regret, and acceptance, and shows how the past cannot be changed, but the future can still be shaped by our choices.

I was really looking forward to this book as I’d heard some great reviews, but sadly it wasn’t for me. I don’t know whether it was the translation or the narrator but I struggled to to connect with it.

This book offers strong character development, with relatable and endearing protagonists. The plot, centered on time travel within a cafe, is emotionally charged and engaging, presented in short, interconnected vignettes. The magical elements are seamlessly integrated and easy to follow. The tone strikes a balance between humor and poignancy. The pacing is efficient, making it a quick and accessible read. This book is a heartwarming and thought-provoking choice for those seeking a unique narrative.

I lost myself in this tiny tale, it has taken me a long time to get to this book but I feel thoroughly fortunate to have got to it now. Beautiful reading just the perfect tone for the book too

Thanks to Macmillan UK for providing me with a free audio copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Before the Coffee gets cold is a translated short story collection that follows a cafe where you can time travel. There are a few rules though, such as you can only time travel if you sit in a specific seat, nothing you do will affect the future. . . and you need to get back to the present before the coffee gets cold.

I found this to be a pleasant listening experience! I will say that I got kind of confused about which character was which because most of them get introduced quite briefly. I often skipped back a bit to check what was actually happening.

The concept is fascinating, and the different stories show quite a few different scenarios of what could happen if someone time travelled.

Overall, I think that everyone will be able to get something from this book. It's definitely a book that has a deeper message, and I think that this takeaway will be different for each person. It's not the most mind-blowing thing I've read, and I think I honestly expected a bit more from it, but I'm glad to have read it!

I feel like everyone is going to be very mad with me, but I'm not sure I liked this one.

Maybe I was expecting too much. Maybe my struggle to accept time travel has ruined another book. Maybe I'm just rightfully pissed off that there's no cat in this and that is FALSE ADVERTISING.

In all honesty, I think it was the ratio of set up for each meeting - the explanation and wait every time was a little tiresome. The characters are wonderfully drawn, the relationships between them palpable, I just kept wishing it would all hurry up.

I'll probably try the next one as I already have it, and I was probably in the mood for something faster paced than this so will try again, but this wasn't the instantly loved book I had hoped it would be. (